Kempe’s power play double leads Sweden to a win

After two dubious performances in the pretournament games Sweden showed that they want to play for medals by winning their opening game 5-2 against the Czech Republic.

Sweden took the lead in the first period when Adrian Kempe scored with a hard and high wrist shot on the first power play of the game. Jens Lööke doubled the lead late in the first when Lukas Wallmark stole the puck from a tired Czech defense and found Lööke in front.

Early in the second period the Czech Ondrej Kale got a breakaway after a Swedish mistake but Linus Söderström came up with big leg-save. A few minutes later another big mistake this time by Robert Hägg gave the Czech star Jakub Vrana free way and alone with Söderström he made no mistake. Sweden continued to play bad defensively and Vrana added his second goal to tie the game after a great assist by Ondrej Kase,

But the Czechs also made mistakes and just seconds later the Swedish star William Nylander gave Sweden the lead again all alone in front of goal. Nylander was brilliant throughout the game and Sweden got pressure on the Czech net almost everytime his line was on the ice.

In the third period Nylander got a scary hit against the head but after a few seconds he went up and could continue the game. On the following power play Adrian Kempe scored his second power play goal after a neat power play.

After that Sweden controlled the game and two minutes later Jacob de la Rose sealed the victory with a nice backhand.

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